In 1973, Roger who worked full time as a steam fitter for Optenburg Iron Works started plowing snow, sweeping parking lots, and hauling topsoil on nights and weekends. Shortly after working the two jobs around the clock he met an experienced equipment operator that said “I will work for you if you do this full time”. After discussions with his wife Joyce, a decision was made to start Wagner Excavating. The first equipment was a tandem axle dump truck and a Caterpillar dozer to dig basements, provide trucking and grading services for the housing industry. Soon another truck and employee were added. It didn’t take long to earn the reputation of providing a quality job on schedule. This is something that hasn’t changed. The growth of the company was steady over the years adding more employees and equipment. With the added staff and larger modern equipment this allowed Wagner Excavating to expand into the commercial building market. Over the years we have provided the earthwork for thousands of projects from Milwaukee to Green Bay.

Wagner Excavating from 2003 to current

Where we are today

Rules and regulations are constantly changing and the jobs are becoming more complex. These changes led to the opportunity for the next generation of the Wagner family to be involved in the business. Kim Mertz and Gregg Wagner now run the day to day operations. With them, Craig Rusch, a professional civil engineer and land surveyor, work to design, schedule, and manage projects. Our operators, truck drivers, and mechanics are more experienced and efficient with the modernization of equipment. Our business is diversified to provide surveying, design, permitting, site work, site utility construction, storm water management, and trucking. This diversity didn’t take us away from our original roots in the housing industry, but has enhanced it. We are now building subdivisions to accommodate the new houses, with the consideration of the environment and water quality.In addition to the subdivision work we have performed excavating services for industrial facilities, office buildings, retail developments, educational facilities and the agricultural industry.